Tumbler cooler and gleaner



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

11.11. s oW. I TUMBLER GOOLER AND CLEANER. No. 469,874. Patented Mar. 1, 1892;

WIT/M8858; l/VVE/VTOR ELM fi ATTORNEYS,

(No Model.) 2-Sheet-Sheet 2.

' H. H. SNOW.

TU MBLER GOOLER AND CLEANER.

Patented Mar. 1, 1892.,

Mr T U ymroa WITNESSES 442/14 TTORNEYJ,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY I-I. SNOW, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

TUMBLER COOLER AND CLEANER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent -No. 469,874, dated March 1, 1892.

Application filed June 22, 1891. Serial No. 397,088." (No model.) 4

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY H. SNOW, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, New York, have invented an Improved Tumbler Oooler and Cleaner, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of an improved means for keeping tumblers clean and cool, more particularly in connection with soda-water fountains and other places for the dispensing of-beverages.

Appliances have heretofore been provided for the purpose of keeping tumblers cool in connection with soda-water fountainsas, for lnstance, by providing a receptacle for broken ice into which the tumblers are to be forcibly pushed, or by providing a receptacle in which the tumblers are kept 'cool by. the transmission of cold through metallic walls behind which ice is kept. Neither of these appliances satisfactorily answers the purpose for several reasons, and among others because they do not keep the glasses clean, for the glasses in both cases are more or less exposed and apt to become dirty from dust or from flies, especially in summer. Furthermore, in the case Where the tumblers are pushed into the broken ice they become cracked by the forcible pushing of them into the ice and by the difference of temperature between the parts embedded and those exposed. The immersion of the glasses in a receptacle of cold water would be desirable if it were not for the objection that they cannot well be placed therein convenient for handling, and that when hastily placed in water the tumblers will be apt to knock against each other and get broken. I have devised a means by which the advantages of the cold-water receptacle are obtainedwithout its inconveniences, and by which the objections to the prior devices heretofore referred to are overcome, and by which tumblers can be kept both cool and clean at all times.

My invention is based upon the idea of immersing or submerging the tumblers in water with their open ends downward and at the same time causing the air to be ejected from the interior of the tumblers by filling its place with a solid as the tumblers are being so immersed with their open ends downward.

I carry this into eifect by the use of stationary submerged filling-blocks, which constit ute the solid referred to; but it will be understood that I use this term rather in an abstract or philosophical sense, and I do not wish to therebyexclude the possibility of making the filling-blocks hollow.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is aplan view of one form of my improved tumbler cooler and cleaner. Fig. 2 is a vertical section. Fig. 3 is a vertical section illustrating a modification. Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are illustrative diagrams.

By the diagram, Fig. 4, I have endeavored to indicate the difficulties insuing from the use of an ordinary water-receptacle. If a tumbler be placed in the waterin a receptacle R, as indicated at T in Fig. 4, thetumbler will, owing to the air which is trapped inside it, turn over and either become entirely reversed or fall on its side, as indicated by dotted lines, and in doing so will be apt to knock against any other glasses which happen to be already in the receptacle. It will be seen that the tumblers thus placed in the receptacle cannot be got at conveniently when it is desired to use them. To meet these objections and at the same time to retain the advantages of the cold-Water receptacle, I provide the latter with a series of conical, cylindrical, or other suitable filling-blocks F, which will more or less approximately fill the insides of the tumblers when the latter are placed upon them with their open ends downward, these filling-blocks being under water. These blocks, in the first place, form guides for the placing of the tumblers T, as indicated in Fig. 5, and by pushing the tumbler down a little farther it will stay, if desired, in the position indicated in Fig. 6 by reason of the fact that the upper part of the fillingblock has taken the place of a portion of the air, which otherwise would be trapped in the tumbler and buoy it up, but which has been forced out. By further pressing down the tumbler, as indicated in Fig. 7, it can be immersed in the water completely, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. It will then stay immersed,

since the air which would otherwise be trapped in the tumbler has been nearly forced out by the entrance of the filling-block, which takes its place, as will readily be understoodon.

reference to Figs. 2 and 3. Any tumbler thus placed upon its filling-block can, however, be readily and conveniently withdrawn from its block by simply grasping between the thumb and fingers the bottom of the tumbler, which is bottom uppermost. This necessitates merely the dipping of the tips of the fingers and thumb in the water.

In order to lessen the danger of breakage of the glasses and also for convenience of man ufacture, I prefer to form my filling-blocks F of wood and to cover them with a paint or varnish, which will prevent the Water from getting into the pores of the wood and swelling it beyond its desired size. I prefer to mount these filling-blocks upon a false bottom B, which fits into the lower part of the receptacle R, and may be there secured.

A convenient way of securing the fillingblocks to the false bottom is by means of screws and washers s, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

I prefer to provide a depressed part B in the receptacle below the false bottom and to apply to this an outlet-cook r, by which at any time the water may be withdrawn.

The filling-blocks, as I have said, may be conical, cylindrical, or of any suitable shape and size, depending on the shape and size of the glasses to be used, the important consideration being, simply, that the filling-blocks shall be of such shape and size as to nearly fill the interiors of the tumblers which are placed upon them, in order that these fillingblocks may drive out and take the place-of the air, which would otherwise be trapped therein when the tumblers are immersed in the water with their open ends downward.

Iv also provide an ice-cage K, preferably made of wire-work orperforated metal,orother open-work, so that the water can circulate in immediate contact with the ice in order to keep thewater at the desired temperature. It is also preferable to arrange this ice-cage in thecenter of the vessel, as shown by the drawings. A suitable overflow-pipe P, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2 or by dotted lines in Fig. 3, may be provided to keep the water at the proper level, notwithstanding the melting of the ice. This plan of providing an icereceptacle is tobe preferred tothe use of cracked ice floating in the water among the glasses, as such cracked ice would interfere with the quick and convenient manipulation of the glasses to place them upon the receiving and filling blocks.

I claim as my invention-- 1. The herein-described appliance for keeping tumblers clean and cool, comprising a receptacle containing one or more filling-blocks immersed in water and adapted to fill the interiors of the tumblers, whereby when the tumblers are applied to the blocks with their open ends downward in the water the air will be ejected by the blocks and the tumblers will then stay in position as immersed over the blocks.

2. The herein-described appliance for keeping tumblers clean and cool, said appliance consisting of a receptacle with an ice-cage therein and containing filling blocks submerged in the water to receive and fill the tumblers as they are immersed with their open ends downward.

3. The herein-described appliance for keeps ing tumblers clean and cool, said appliance consisting of a water-receptacle with a false bottom having submerged wooden blocks secured thereto to receive and fill the tumblers when immersed in the water with their open ends downward.

4. The herein-described appliance for keep-. ing tumblers clean and cool, said appliance.

consisting of a water-receptacle inwhich the tumblers can be immersed in the water, an

overflow to keep the water at a proper level,

and conical, cylindrical, or other suitablefilt.

ing-blocks to receive and fill the tumblers as they are immersed .in the water with their open ends downward. .t

5. The herein-described appliance for keeping tumblers clean. and cool, said appliance consisting of a receptacle with an icecage.

therein and containing filling s blocks submerged in the water toreceive and fill.the tumblers as they are immersed with their open ends downward, and an overflow to keep the water at a proper level..

In .testimony whereof I. have signed my 

